Leaving your home country and moving to a foreign country is hard! Whether you are going abroad to study, work, or follow your spouse, getting accustomed to the new life takes some time. Even then, the feeling of being far away from home never goes away.
When I moved to Costa Rica from India 3 years ago, I was miserable. I moved after getting married to Prateek, who was already working here. I didn’t have a job, didn’t have friends, and didn’t know the language. Life was hard!
But, I was determined to make myself home here. I didn’t want to depend on him to take me to places, shopping, or buy groceries for me (because even buying groceries is hard when you don’t know the local language). It took me a good three to four months to build a life here. For that, I read a lot of blogs on how to cope with homesickness, worked on myself, and worked on building a network.
I can proudly say that I am in a much better state today. And, this is why I want to share some tips with you to help you overcome homesickness in Costa Rica in a better manner.
Ways To Deal With Homesickness in Costa Rica
Here are some tips and ways that I found useful for coping with homesickness. Start working on them slowly, and you are bound to see results. Let’s begin!
1. Adapt to the new environment
It’s important to accept your present and not dwell in the past. In the initial days, you are going to miss your family a lot. But, remember to put effort into adapting to the new life.
Invest time and effort into decorating your new house with things that remind you of your home and give you a comforting feeling. Put up pictures of your family, your friends, and even your favorite places back home. Make your house your “HOME”. Doing this will give you a sense of control over your new life.
2. Have a fixed routine
I cannot stress enough the importance of having a fixed routine. Having a fixed routine in your professional, as well as personal life, gives you a sense of purpose and helps you feel in control. Exercise regularly, sleep and wake up at a fixed time, and take out time for your hobbies. Do not forget to incorporate some fun/leisure activities into your routine!
3. Build a support network
Humans are inherently social. We are not meant to live alone or in isolation. So why live alone in a foreign country?
Build a support network with people who understand you, and who make you feel at home. Something that I practiced was inviting my neighbors over for drinks, coffee, or tea. I also reached out to other Indians who had newly moved to Costa Rica. I made new friends!
4. Join a community from your country
One thing that really helped me was joining the Indian community in Costa Rica. There is a WhatsApp group with Indians living in Costa Rica and there are currently 450 members.
If you do not have a community of your country, join a general expat community. There are many Facebook and WhatsApp groups for this purpose. From asking random questions about travel to selling stuff online, you can find a solution to many of your ‘expat’ problems in these groups. You can even get together to celebrate events from your home country. Being a part of a community will make you feel more at home!
5. Join Facebook & WhatsApp groups to connect with like-minded people
Facebook and WhatsApp groups are a great way of connecting with like-minded people who share similar interests as yours. These days, it’s easy to find groups for almost everything. Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? What excites you? Is it traveling, hiking, biking, or surfing? Or do you like knitting? Look up a specific group based on your passion and hit “join”.
Keep an eye on activities happening around you, and become a part of these. Connect with people, make friends, and have a good time. We, Indians, have a lot of groups for different activities/sports like volleyball, cricket, hiking, etc. A lot of Indians gather together every Saturday to play Cricket. Once a month, we plan a hike nearby. These groups keep us connected and help fulfill our social needs.
6. Learn Spanish
One thing that will really help you adapt better is learning the local language. Of course, it’s much easier if the country you move to speaks your language. But, if it doesn’t, this is the first thing you need to work on. Speaking the local language will help you blend in better, and will make you feel more at home.
I started learning Spanish while I was in India. But obviously, learning online is very different from learning the practical way. When I moved to Costa Rica, I realized that what I had learned was not enough for me to navigate day-to-day life here. I had to spend much more time and effort learning Spanish. From taking an Uber, and buying groceries, to talking to people in public places, your life will be much easier if you speak Spanish.
7. Blend in with Costa Rican culture
If you do not try to blend in with the local culture, you will never feel a part of that place. So, go all out! Try Costa Rican cuisine, be a part of local festivals and celebrations, strike conversations with Costa Ricans, learn about their way of life, learn the commonly used phrases, and learn more about history and traditions.
8. Explore the country
Costa Rica is a very diverse country. From majestic volcanoes, pristine waterfalls, and stunning beaches, to lush green rainforests, there is a mix of everything here!
Make a bucket list of what you want to see and experience. Plan your weekends in advance. Keep an eye out for public holidays and extended weekends. There is nothing better than exploring the country to understand it better!
9. Keep an eye on local events
Similarly, pay special attention to local events. They are a great way of understanding the local culture and the local people. Every year in December, Costa Rica celebrates Festival de la Luz (festival of lights) in San Jose. This event is nothing less than a spectacle and is a must-watch for anyone who hasn’t witnessed it before. For Independence Day in September, there are parades by every municipality in their region.
For Guanacaste Day at the end of July, try to be a part of celebrations in a beach town in Guanacaste. A year ago, we went to Samara for the long weekend for Guanacaste Day. We felt happy to be a part of the local festivities and parades there. Every year in December, Prateek and I go for walks to see the Christmas decorations in our neighborhood. It helps us ring in the Christmas spirit.
10. Make video calls to your family back home
Staying connected with your family back home keeps you happy and content. Though it can sometimes make you miss them more, speaking to them regularly over video calls is great for your emotional and mental health. Do not let the time zone difference come your way!
Final Thoughts
Always respect the traditions, culture, and people of the country no matter where you are! As much as it is important to stay connected to your roots, it is important to adjust to the new country. The sooner you put efforts into becoming a part of the new country, the sooner you will come out of the feeling of “being a foreigner”.
We hope you found this blog helpful, and that you felt a step closer to “becoming a part of this country” after reading it. Cheers!
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